THE alarming state of female mental health is exposed today as experts reveal 60% have had problems.

The report has found the situation is so severe that eight million women have taken antidepressants to cope. It has resulted in promiscuity, drug use and family breakdowns – with those as young as 12 affected.

The crisis comes as Government cuts bite into vital support services.

Penny Newman, of Platform 51, which campaigns for women and compiled the report, said: “Women are often the linchpins of their families and if three-in-five aren’t meeting their potential, they lose out, their family loses out and so does society.

“Policy-makers need to act now and provide effective interventions. We must also end the dependency culture around prescription drugs, giving choice over support.”

The charity’s research, called Women Like Me, involved females aged 12 and over in England and Wales.

It found 44% took time off work due to mental health issues and 27% regularly drank enough to get drunk.